We all love a good bad-boy, but some of us take it a step further and fall in love with the story’s villain. There is something so alluring about them, no matter what. I know I can never deny a good, morally grey villain who is also the love interest. Ranging from slightly bad to downright villainous, these horror/thriller books to read this spooky season have a villain as a love interest.
Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Trigger Warning: This book contains death, torture, gore, and mentions of abuse. Please exercise self-care.
Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is the perfect villain love interest if you are into supernatural creatures. Mexico City is home to vampires, creatures from an ancient Aztec bloodline. Domingo was living his normal, slightly boring life until one of these vampires, Alt, crashed into his life. She is gorgeous, intelligent, talented, and so dangerous, but Domingo can’t help but love every bit of it. She is trying to escape the city, from a rival clan hunting her down, and her plan did not include a young man, but as time passes, she realizes his company isn’t bad after all. With cops and vampires after them, will they be able to escape the city alive and together?
The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling
For those looking for a more thrilling story, The Death of Jane Lawrence by Cailin Starling is the one for you. Jane realized the perfect path for her life is to marry for convenience and find someone to care for her. Dr. Augustine Lawrence is the ideal candidate for the job, as he is reclusive, wealthy, and not too hard on the eyes either. His only condition was never to visit his family’s crumbling manor, not too hard, right? When an accident forces her to the door of his manor, she realizes the man she marries is not as he used to be. He is paranoid and delusional, thinking everyone is out to get him, and he doesn’t even recognize her. Still, the next morning, he is perfectly normal, and all Jane knows is that she got into more trouble than she realized.
You by Caroline Kepnes
You by Caroline Kepnes is the first book in the series and has now been adapted into a popular TV show, available to view on Netflix. Joe Goldberg is not your average romantic. When the new writer comes to town, Beck, he becomes obsessed with her, learning about her life, dreams, goals, even where she went to school and her friends, all by looking up her name on her credit card. Joe curates the perfect plan to get her to be his, and he turns from a creepy stalker to a boyfriend overnight. But Joe has his secrets, and he will stop at nothing to make sure Beck doesn’t leave him, even if that means murder.
The Perfect Husband by Lisa Gardner
The Perfect Husband by Lisa Gardner is for those who want a true villain you will not love, even if the main character does. Tess and her husband Jim had the perfect life; he was a decorated cop, and they had kids together, but of course, nothing is as it seems. Two years after their kid was born, Tess helped put Jim behind bars, as he is a serial killer who murdered ten women. He vowed one day he would make her pay for ruining their life, and now he has escaped, and Tess must stay protected. She helps the Marines, joins a statewide manhunt to find and retrieve Jim in person, and even learns to fight back. Soon, she will realize that the dangerous game has only begun.
Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney
Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney is perfect for those who want a more ambiguous villain. The Wrights haven’t been happy in their marriage for a long time, but soon they realize they won a contest to spend the weekend in Scotland. Not only that, but it is their anniversary, and usually they share the traditional yearly gifts, while Mrs. Wright writes a letter she never lets her husband read, until now. However, things go south pretty fast as they realize that this trip wasn’t a coincidence and that one of them is keeping secrets that would have broken up the marriage earlier. Will this trip make or break their marriage? Which one of them has kept ten years’ worth of secrets?
My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing
Maybe you want something where both people in the relationship are villains, then My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing is ideal. Marriage has its perks and its downfalls. Life was perfect, Tobias and Millicent had everything they wanted: kids, a lovely suburban home, and pure love. But after 15 years, things ended up becoming boring. They come across as the perfectly normal family, but hold a big secret. The thing that keeps them together is getting away with murder.
House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson
House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson is a twisted horror, featuring a queer love story. Marion has only ever known what it is like to live in the slums, and in a desperate attempt to get out of it, she finds a job offer as a bloodmaid: a maid, the rich use up north, where they drink the blood of their servants. Despite its weird nature, Marion is intrigued and takes the job, but her new boss, Lisavet, is… something else. Marion becomes the center of attention at the new household and, therefore, the center of attention for Lisavet. Marion is enthralled and wants nothing more than to please her. Soon, Lisavet’s other bloodmaids start disappearing. Marion realizes her relationship is like a cat-and-mouse game, and she isn’t sure she can get out of it or untangle herself with Lisavet.
The Hacienda By Isabel Cañas
The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas is another paranormal horror, featuring a haunted house. Beatriz lost her family when the Mexican government was overthrown. Because of that, she will do anything she can to find the protection she needs, even if that means marrying Don, a wealthy man with a weird family, and an ex-wife whose death was beyond accidental. Once she moves into The Hacienda, she realizes her new husband was far more deceptive than she thought. There is an evil lurking within the house’s walls, one that is tormenting her, and Don and his family are even worse. Did she really find the protection she needed, or did Don set her up for something she wasn’t prepared for?
These horror or thriller books have a plot that will keep you turning the page, and a romantic interest that will have you questioning your morals. Or not. Guess you will have to read them to find out.
Want to learn about some morally grey characters with extra spice? Click here.
Click here for the team’s favorite thriller dark romances.
